Page 132 of The Apple Tree

“Stand back, buddy,” Kyle said, opening the oven. “And keep Clifford back too.”

“I’ve got it.” I set my Gatorade bottle on the counter and took the cookie sheet from Kyle. Then I used the spatula to scoot the pizza onto it. “Oh!”

“Josh!” Kyle yelled as I bumped into him, and the pizza slid off the cookie sheet.

A blood-curdling scream filled the room.

“Dammit!” Kyle pulled Josh toward the sink and lifted him up.

“Eve, turn on the cold water.”

I stood stunned, staring at the hot pizza sauce and cheese burning Josh’s arm.

“EVE!” Kyle yelled.

I jumped and turned on the water.

Josh screamed.

“I’msosorry,” I said, but it was barely a whisper because I couldn’t believe what had happened.

“We have to go to the hospital. It’ll be okay, buddy,” Kyle said.

“Eve, grab a clean towel.”

I stared at the burned skin along Josh’s arm.

“Eve!”

My gaze snapped from Josh’s arm to Kyle’s face.

That’swhen we made eye contact.

Kyle frowned. “Give me the goddamn towel, Eve!”

I handed him the towel as Josh cried uncontrollably.

“Look at me,” Kyle said, wrapping Josh’s arm in the towel.

Everything felt like a bad dream. His cries pierced my ears.

“Look. At. Me!” Kyle demanded. It took him less than two seconds to get his answer. “Go home.”

“But he needs to go to the emergency room,” I said.

“Are you going to drive him?”

I winced at his sharp tone and slowly shook my head. “I’ll ride in the back seat with him.”

“Hold on to my neck, Josh,” Kyle instructed Josh to put his good arm around his neck.

“I’ll carry him.”

“You won’t,” he said, lifting Josh with his one good arm. “Shut off the oven and grab my keys.”

I turned in a slow circle, looking for the keys.

“On the counter, Eve.”

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